This experiment tested a communication accommodation theory (CAT) explanation for the effects of speaker speech rate on compliance with a request for help. It was predicted that communicators’ speech rate similarity increases social attractiveness and creates relational obligations to comply. Nine speech rates were presented to assess preferences for speech rate and speech‐rate similarity. Four requests for help, varying from unacceptably slow to unacceptably fast, were presented. As predicted, speech rate similarity was associated with greater intimacy, immediacy, and sociability/character interpretations. Speech‐rate similarity was not directly related to compliance, but enhanced immediacy ratings were linked to greater compliance. Nonverbal cues that indicate relational involvement or immediacy may be more instrumental in creating obligations to comply than cues which communicate sociability and character.
The effects of speech rate similarity on compliance: Application of communication accommodation theory
Reprints and Corporate Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:
Academic Permissions
Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?
Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:
If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.
Related Research Data
Related research
People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.
Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.
Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.